The new SLR Club picked a suitably auspicious occasion for its inaugural meeting on 10 September 2017: the Chantilly Arts & Elegance Richard Mille celebrates international automobile culture in a variety of high class formats. The event, which takes place in the surrounds of the 16th century Château de Chantilly, was held for the fourth time in 2017.

The SLR Club will provide a strong platform for activities celebrating the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren super sports car. A total of 2,157 models of the 199-series were built between 2003 and 2009: along with 1,262 Coupes (C199) there were 520 Roadsters (R199) and 375 special models built to commemorate Stirling Moss’s victory in the 1955 Mille Miglia in a Mercedes-Benz 300SLR (W196S).

These include 150 models of both the SLR 722 Coupe and the SLR 722 S Roadster, as well as 75 exceptionally sporty SLR Stirling Moss special models (Z199) – a classic speedster without roof or windscreen. All versions share a common groundbreaking bodyshell construction featuring fibre composites and aluminium, and are powered by a supercharged V8 engine developed by Mercedes-AMG.

The new S-Class Cabriolet range, meanwhile, is made up of the S560, the S63 and the S65. The UK market will get the S560, S63 and S65 only.

S-Class Cabriolet OLED rear light

All models will feature revised looks including new OLED tail lamps, and customers will have the choice of three new trim lines and three new upholstery lines.

S-Class Cabriolet interior

There’s also new steering wheel designs, and a refreshed widescreen cockpit display employing the latest version of Comand Online. What’s more, Mercedes has also developed a new ‘Energising comfort control’ system to tailor the cabin ambience and settings to the mood of the driver.

Mercedes-AMG S 63 4MATIC+ Cabriolet

The facelifted S-Class Coupe and Cabriolet made their debuts at the Frankfurt motor show on September 14.

You can now receive up to £2,000 off the price of a new, EU6 compliant Mercedes-Benz car when you trade in your old EU1 to EU4 diesel motor at a UK main dealer before December 31st – and it doesn't have to wear a three-pointed star!

Mercedes-AMG has revealed a new GT4 race car based on the GT R. Set to be presented at the Spa 24-hour race this coming weekend, the GT4 will cost from €198,850 (£178,000) excluding VAT. For that outlay you get a race prepared car with full support from the AMG Customer Racing Programme, and can boast that your machine was developed and tested by Mercedes racers Bernd Schneider, Thomas Jäger and Jan Seyffarth.

As you might expect, the specification is incredible – the four-litre V8 biturbo makes 503bhp with up to 442lb ft torque, and the motor is linked to a sequential six-speed AMG competition gearbox with mechanical differential. Elsewhere under the bodywork – complete with carbon addenda – you'll find aluminium double-wishbone suspension with adjustable shock absorbers, plus six-piston front and four-piston rear brakes behind 18-inch forged alloy wheels. The whole car weights around 1,390kg and can fire to 62mph in under four seconds, with a top speed of 155mph.

Of course, to meeting the demands of racing, the GT4 also features a roll cage made of high strength steel, plus a carbon driver safety cell, a hatch in the roof for quick escape, and a powerful fire extinguisher system.

Set to take part in GT4 class races in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, AMG's new racer will undergo final evaluation in coming months before customer deliveries start at the end of 2017.

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new X-Class pickup. With looks inspired by the company's SUVs, the X-Class will slip seamlessly into the range when it goes on sale later this year. Depending on the market, up to three variants will be offered: Pure (basic), Progressive (emphasis on luxury and comfort) and Power (high end variant for 'urban lifestyles').

The engine line up consists of four- and six-cylinder motors. The four-pot diesels are badged as X220d (161bhp) and X250d (187bhp), and Mercedes says there will also be a 163bhp petrol model. A 254bhp V6 turbodiesel variant will arrive in mid 2018.

Mercedes says its X-Class will feel and drive like its passenger car range, thanks to a wide track providing excellent stability, plus springs and dampers tuned for comfort. The X-Class uses a ladder type frame chassis, with rear multi link solid axle and independent front suspension, with coil springs on both axles.

Fans of four-wheel drive will be pleased to hear that 4Matic with low range gearing and an optional differential lock with be launched in the middle of next year. Mercedes also revealed that the X-Class can haul up to 1.1 tonnes, and is able to tow 3.5 tonnes.

Full UK details were not available at the time of writing, but we do know the X-Class will start at €37,300 including 19 per cent VAT in Germany, which equates to around £33,100. Market launch kicks off in November in Europe, but South Africa and Australia will have to wait until the beginning of 2018. Argentina and Brazil will take delivery of their cars from the start of 2019.

The Mercedes-Benz Vision SLA was based on the first generation A-Class and debuted at the Detroit motor show in January 2000.

The front-wheel drive roadster measured just 3.8m long, and featured a 1.9-litre petrol engine developing 123bhp with 133lb ft of torque. The four-cylinder motor was linked to a five-speed manual gearbox.

The SLA's bodywork was made from aluminium and plastic, meaning a kerb weight of 950kg. And the SLA's carbon bucket seats, and LED rear light clusters and indicators inspired those seen on the SLR McLaren of 2003.

The diminutive roadster could fire from zero to 62mph in 7.9 seconds, and was said to be capable of 130mph.

Mercedes-Benz has launched a new video for its upcoming X-Class premium pickup and you can watch it below.

The X-Class's full reveal happens on July 18, and the car goes on sale a few months later, with first deliveries late in 2017. Key markets will be Argentina, Brazil, South Africa, Australia with New Zealand, and Europe, and the X-Class will be manufactured in cooperation with the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

Earlier this year, we joined Mercedes-Benz Classic and Jorg van Ommen Autosport for their first track day event of the season at Hockenheim, Germany.

Mercedes-Benz very kindly loaned us a track prepared 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II for the occasion, and we wasted no time putting its screaming four-cylinder engine, unassisted brakes and slick tyres to good use.

Here are three laps on board with Kyle Molyneux and a member of the Mercedes-Benz Classic team. Get the full story in the July 2017 edition of Mercedes Enthusiast magazine, on sale now!

]]>50 Years of AMG: Success was the only optionhttp://www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk/50-years-of-amg-success-was-the-only-option/
Thu, 15 Jun 2017 12:12:53 +0000http://www.mercedesenthusiast.co.uk/?p=1645350 YEARS OF AMG

Hans Werner Aufrecht talks about the early days of his great Mercedes-Benz tuning company.